Norman Schelske, 84, of Springfield

Funeral services will be 2 PM, Friday, November, 27, 2020 at St. Vincent's Catholic Church in Springfield. Burial is in the Springfield Cemetery, rural Springfield. Visitation will be from 1 to 2 PM Friday at the church. Masks are highly recommended. Peters Funeral Chapel in Springfield is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials will be directed to a project to be determined at a later date at the Springfield Golf Course.

Norm's service will be streamed at https://facebook.com/events/s/norman-schelske/297541368208897/?ti=icl

Norman Floyd Schelske was born February 8, 1936 in Hutchinson County, Tripp, South Dakota to Arthur and Edna (Herr) Schelske. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church. He died Friday, November 20, 2020 at Avera Majestic Bluffs Hospice House in Yankton.

After attending country school, Norm worked with various road construction crews. He then worked as a lineman on the high line transmission towers that were being erected throughout the country in the mid 1950s. In 1957, at the age of 21, he quit climbing towers and purchased the Corner Tavern in Springfield, SD. He began making Springfield his home for the next 64 years. Norm joined the National Guard in 1958 and served for 28 years. He retired with the rank of Sergeant First Class and received several awards throughout his career to include Recruiter of the Year.

Norman Married DiAnn Bruning of Mitchell, SD in 1960. From this union they had 2 children, Dena and Gregg. In 1964, Norm's Liquor was built to expand the business to include food service and a larger place to gather in town. He ran and operated the bar for 39 years. During this time, Norm served as a Chamber member and held the position of Chamber President several times. He also served as a Volunteer Fireman and Ambulance Driver for the City of Springfield. He was a life-long member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church and held many offices within the church.

Norman enjoyed many pheasant and deer hunting trips with family and friends. He was an avid bowler, in his younger years, and always sponsored teams in the league. He enjoyed watching Dena and Gregg, along with the local kids participate in High School activities and attended events held at USD/S. Later he took up the game of golf. You could find him on the course many afternoons and league evenings swinging away. Of course, if you played a game with Norm, you knew your job was to watch and find his ball! Even though it was straight down the fairway! He continued playing golf until he no longer could see very well. Norman's favorite thing to do was play Pinochle with all the local guys in the afternoon and early evenings.

After retiring as a business owner, Norman was elected mayor of Springfield. He held the position for 20 years. He was an avid supporter of the community and was involved in many projects and served on various committees and boards over the years. You could always count on Norm driving up and down and around the streets of Springfield checking on the streets, parks, water plant and the people of Springfield.

Grateful for having shared his life is his wife DiAnn, his children, daughter Dena Wronko of Fayetteville, NC; son Gregg and wife Kim (Kreiner) of Springfield, SD; four grandchildren: Amanda and Tyler Rand of Parker, SD; Nicholle Wronko of Fayetteville, NC; Cassandra Wronko of Vallejo,CA; and Chad Schelske of Yankton, SD, two great grandchildren: Caden Wronko and Waverly Rand; one sister Kathy and her husband Dave Mudloff of Olathe, KS; four sisters-in-law: Beatrice Schelske of Scotland, Carol Thorson of Viborg, Fern Schelske of Sioux Falls, Gloria and her husband Larry Benedict of Arroyo Grande, California; many nieces and nephews as well as a host of relatives and friends.

Norman was preceded in death by parents Arthur and Edna Schelske, sisters: Leola Kizer and Eldora Baumiller; brothers: Eldon, Donald, Arthur Jr, Marvin, Wilmer and Willard; and nephews: Craig Baumiller, Perry Schelske and Lennis Baumiller.